Means for controlling starting motor and ignition circuits



MEANS FORCONTROLLING STARTIIIG MOTOR AND IGNITION CIRCUITS Filed June 9, 1950 Patented Feb. 13, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MEANS FOR CONTROLLING STARTING MOTOR AND IGNITION CIRCUITS Application June 9, 1930. Serial No. 459,913

7 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in means for controlling starting motor and ignition circuits, and it consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved means of this kind wherein a generator coacting with a manually operable switch is caused to control the starting motor and ignition circuits of internal combustion engines, and which means is so arranged that when the switch is operated to an on position it is caused to energize both the starting motor and the ignition circuits, current generated by the generator then being employed to de-energize the starting motor circuit only, the manual operation of the switch to an o position de-energizing both the starting motor and ignition circuits regardless of the generator.

These objects of my invention as well as others, together with the many advantages thereof, will appear as I proceed with my specification.

Means for controlling the starting motor and ignition circuits of engines have been provided wherein a single manually operable switch is caused to energize the starting motor and the ignition system and the operation of a generator driven by the engine is utilized to control the deenergizing of the generator only after the engine runs under its own power, and should the engine stall or become stationary the operation is again repeated without any attention on the part of the operator. This restarting is due to the fact that the component parts of the mechanism are in the same relative positions when the engine has stalled, as immediately after the operation of the switch in the initial starting of the engine. Therefore, in such a means, as a matter of coincidence when providing for simultaneous energizing of the starting motor with the ignition by the manual operation of a single switch, said means will act to restart the engine whenever it stalls so long as the switch is in its operative or on position.

When such means are embodied in automotive vehicles there are numerous occasions when automatic restarting would be of a great disadvantage, as in accidents. The present invention overcomes this disadvantage by providing a means for simultaneously energizing the starting motor and ignition system of an engine and when it runs under its own power the generator of the engine is caused to deenergize the starting motor only, and should the engine stall, means are provided to prevent the automatic restarting thereof until the switch has been manually operated to again energize the starting motor circuit. In this manner, this invention provides a means for automatically controlling the starting of the engine only, and should the engine stop, manual operation of the switch on the part of the operator, is necessary to restart a the engine.

Referring now to the drawing which will illustrate by way of example, a convenient form of the invention;-

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of an electrical system embodying the present invention.

Figs. -2, 3 and 4 are diagrammatic views of a switch forming part of this invention, showing the component parts in their varied relative positions.

Referring to the drawing, and particularly Fig. 1, the numeral 1 designates an electric storage battery arranged in circuit with the generator 2. 3 is an engine, 4 an electric starting motor having an automatically enga g Pinion 5 which engages the flywheel 6 of the engine when the starting motor is energized, and disengages from said fly wheel when the engine 30 runs under its own power. '7 designates switch contacts arranged in the starting motor circuit 13 and adapted to be operated by the electromagnet 8. 33 is the primary and 41 the secondary winding of an ignition coil, 34 designates 5 a timer and 10 a distributor for the current to the sparkplug leads 11. 21 is a usual automatic cut-out arranged in circuit between the battery 1 and the generator 2 by the leads 19 and 44.

A represents a manually operable switch including the base member 22 which is of any suitable insulating material and supports the stationary contacts 23 and 24, the electro-magnet 31 and its winding 32 and the stop pin 29. The contact member 25 is supported by the base member 22 and is arranged for rotary movement into and out of engagement with the stationary contacts 23 and 24, while the contact arm 26 is supported by said contact member 25 and is arranged for rotary movement in relation thereto and therewith. The contact arm 26 is adapted to be controlled .by the electro-magnet 31 and also operated by the contact member 25 by the projection 27 which is secured to said contact member 25.

The spring 28 normally maintains the contact arm 26 against the stop 29 and the contacts 30 open, but, through manual operation of the contact member 25 by the arm 40 to the position shown in Fig, 3,, the projection 27 engages the 1 0 contact arm 26 and moves it in a direction towards the electro-magnet 31 and closes the contacts 30. Should the contact member be moved to the position as shown in Fig. 4, from the position shown in Fig. 3, when the electromagnet 31 is energized, then the contact arm 26 is maintained in the position as shown in Fig. 4, by the magnet against the tension of the spring 28. The switch A is arranged for operation to two positions, an "oil" as shown in Fig. 2, and an on position as shown in Fig. 1, but it can also be operated to a third position as shown in Fig. 3, in which case, it is necessary to manually maintain it in that position, as the spring 45 tends to swing the arm back to the position as shown in Fig. 4. This arrangement is for the purpose or providing a momentary engagement of the contacts 30 upon initial operation of the switch when it is desired to start the engine as will be later explained.

In operation, assuming that the switch A is in its "on" pomtion, which would be as shown in Fig. 2. wherein the contact member 25 is out of engagement with the stationary contacts 23 and 24 and the spring 28 retains thecontact arm 26 against the stop 29 holding the contacts 30 open. Manual operation of the switch to its on" position causes the switch to be operated to a position as shown in Fig. 3. In this position the contact member 25 is moved into engagement with thestationary contacts 23 and 24, and the projection 2'1 01 the contact member 25 is engaged with the contact arm 26, moving it towards the electro-magnet 31 and closing the contacts 30. Current now passes from the battery 1 by way of lead 44 to contact 24, contact member 25, contact 23, primary winding 33 of the ignition coil, and to ground 35 by way of the timer 34, thereby energizing the spark plug leads 11 by way of the secondary winding 41, lead 12 and distributor 10. The contact arm 26 being constantly in electrical contact with the contact member 25 is caused to energize the electromagnet 31 by closing the contacts 30 which allows current to pass from the battery to the contacts 30, winding 32, lead 14, electromagnet winding 9, lead 15, contact 16, brush 17 and to ground 18 through the generator 2, thereby simultaneously energizing the electro-magnets 31 and 8. The electro-magnet 8 then closes the contacts 7 and energizes the starting motor circuit. Upon the operator releasing the arm 40 o! the switch A, the spring 45 moves it to the position as shown in Fig.4. The electro-magnet 31 being at this time energized, maintains the contact arm 26 in the position as shown in Fig. 4, which holds the contacts 30 closed and the circuit including the electro-magnet 8 energized.

When the starting motor 4 is energized, the pin ion 5 is caused to be operated into driving engagement with the flywheel 6 and rotates it until the engine starts of its own power when it is caused to be moved out of engagement with the flywheel. The generator being driven by the engine, upon gaining suflicient speed, generates sumcient current to prevent the passage of current to ground by way of the brush 1'! thereby.

causing the electro-magnets 31 and 8 to become de-energized. This opens the contacts '1 and de-energizes the starting motor, the spring 28 separating the contacts 30 by biasing the contact arm 26 against the stop 29.

The relative positions or the component parts are now, as shown in Fig. 1, wherein the ignition system is energized, and the starting motor, electro-magnet 31 and electro-magnet 8 are de-energized, the pinion disengaged from the engine, and the automatic cut-out 21 operating to close the circuit 19 to the battery to allow current generated by the generator to pass to the battery in the usual manner.

Should the engine stall while the switch is in the on" position as shown in Fig. 1, reenergizing of the starting motor circuit is impossible because the circuit of the electro-magnet winding 9 is maintained open by the spring 28 holding the contacts 30 apart. To re-start the engine, it is necessary to operate the arm 40 or the switch A from the position shown in Fig. l to that shown in Fig. 3, which causes the projection 2'7 to actuate the contact arm 26 to again close the contacts 30 which are caused to repeat the starting operation.

It is noted that only momentary closing 01 the contacts 30 is necessary for restarting because when they have been closed by manual operation, the electro-magnet 31 maintains them closed until the functioning of the generator de-energizes the electro-magnet or the switch is manually operated to its oii" position as shown in Fig. 2, when the circuit including the electro-magnets is de-energized by the contact member 25 being operated out oicontact with the stationary contacts 24 and 23 thereby deenergizing both the circuits including the electromagnets 8 and 31 and the ignition system. It is noted that the circuit including the electromagnets is controlled by the operation of the generator, the contacts 30, and the contacts 23, 23 and the contact member 25.

While it is possible to energize the electromagnets 8 and 31 by manually closing the contacts 30, it is impossible to de-energize the electro-magnets in a like manner, as the electromagnet 31 would maintain the contacts 30 closed magnetically once the magnet was energized. Thus it is necessary to provide other means for manually de-energizing the electro-magnets when so desired.

By the construction described I am able to provide automatic means for controlling the circuit oi. a starting motor to start an engine, by utilizing the functioning of a generator coacting with a manually operable switch adapted to control an ignition circuit, and so arranged that should the engine stop of itself while the ignition system is energized, it can be started again by merely applying a slight movement to a member of the manually operable switch.

While in describing the invention, I have referred in detail to a form, arrangement and construction of the parts employed, the same is to be considered merely as illustrative so that I do not wish to be limited thereto except as may be specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:-

1. In a means for starting engines including in combination, an electro-magnet adapted to control the circuit 01 a starting motor, means for controlling said electro-magnet including a manually operable switch adapted'to be operated to two positions, and means biasing said switch from the second to the first position, said switch when operated to its first position energizing an ignition system and when operated to its second position energizing a circuit including said electro-magnet, and electro-magnetic means adapted to maintain the last mentioned circuit energized after the said switch has been operated from its second to its first position.

2. In a means for starting engines including in combination, an electro-magnet adapted to control the circuit of a starting motor, means for controlling the electro-magnet including a manually operable switch adapted to be operated from an off to and beyond an on" position, said switch when operated to its on position energizing an ignition system, and when operated beyond said on position energizing a circuit including said electro-magnet, and electro-magnetic means adapted to maintain said last mentioned circuit energized after said switch has been operated from beyond to its on position.

3. In a means for starting engines including in combination, an electro-magnet adapted to control the circuit of a starting motor, means for controlling the said electro-magnet including a manually operable switch adapted to be operated from an ofi to and beyond an on position, said switch when operated to its on position energizing an ignition system, and when operated beyond said on position energizing a circuit including said electro-magnet, and electro-magnetic means comprising an electro-magnet arranged in series with the circuit of the first mentioned electro-magnet to maintain the same energized after the switch has been operated from said beyond to its on position.

4. In a means for starting engines including in combination, an electro-magnet adapted to control the circuit of a starting motor, of means for controlling the said electro-magnet including a manually operable switch in circuit therewith and having contacts adapted to be manually operated to a closed position to energize said electro-magnet, and electro-magnetic means adapted to maintain said contacts closed, a generator adapted to be driven by the engine when the same is in operation, andmeans whereby the functioning of said generator when driven by the engine is caused to open said contacts.

5. In a means for starting engines including in combination, electro-magnetic means adapted to control the circuit of a starting motor, said means including a manually operable switch and two electro-magnets arranged in series circuit connecting a generator with an electric storage battery, and means operable in the manipulation of said switch toward the "on position for energizing the last mentioned circuit, one of said electro-magnets being adapted to control said starting motor circuit and the other of said electro-magnets being adapted to maintain the circuit including said electro-magnets closed, the functioning of the generator operating to deenergize the last mentionedpircuit.

6. In a means for starting an engine, the combination of a starting motor, a circuit for connecting the same with a storage battery, electromagnetic means for controlling said circuit and which means includes a coil, a second circuit including said coil of said electro-magnetic means, a generator in said second circuit, a second electro-magnetic means including a coil for maintaining said second circuit energized, in series with said second circuit, an ignition circuit for the engine and a manually operable switch for con trolling the ignition circuit and operating when moved beyond its on position to operatively connect both of said coils with said battery, said generator when driven by the engine providing a force opposing said battery so as to deenergize both of said coils and thus stop the starting motor.

7. In a means for starting an engine, the combination of a starting motor, a circuit for connecting the same with a storage battery and l which embodies a coil, electro-magnetic means for controlling said circuit, a second circuit including said coil of said electro-magnetic means, a generator in said second circuit, a second electro-magnetic means including a coil for maintaining said second circuit energized, in series with said second circuit, an ignition circuit for the engine and a manually operable switch including an operating member for controlling the ignition circuit for the engine and operating 1 5 when moved beyond its on position to control said second electro-magnetic means in operatively connecting both of said coils with said battery, said generator when driven by the engine providing a force opposing said battery so as to 120 deenergize both of said coils and thus stop the motor, said coils also being capable of being disconnected from the battery when said operating member of said manually operable switch is moved to its off position.

HERBERT H. TRAIL.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,946,555.

February 13, 1934.

HERBERT n. TRAIL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, lines 105 and 106, claim 7, strike out the words "and'which embodies a coil" and inser the same after "circuit first occurrence in line 107, of same claim; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 13th day of March, A. D. 1934.

(Sea I) F. M. Hopkins Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

